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.
Keywords: cytoskeleton; endocytosis; evolution; spectrin.