Role of Spectrin in Endocytosis

Cytoskeletal spectrin is found in (non)erythroid cells. Eukaryotic endocytosis takes place for internalizing cargos from extracellular milieu. The role of spectrin in endocytosis still remains poorly understood. Here, I summarize current knowledge of spectrin function, spectrin-based cytoskeleton and endocytosis of erythrocytes, and highlight how spectrin contributes to endocytosis and working models in different types of cells. From an evolutionary viewpoint, I discuss spectrin and endocytosis in a range of organisms, particularly in plants and yeast where spectrin is absent. Together, the role of spectrin in endocytosis is related to its post-translational modification, movement/rearrangement, elimination (by proteases) and meshwork fencing.