The AAA ATPase spastin links microtubule severing to membrane modelling

► Spastin is a microtubule severing ATPase and mutations in the gene encoding spastin cause axonal degeneration. ► N‐terminal spastin domains serve to recruit it to cellular sites of action. ► A hydrophobic domain localizes spastin to the endoplasmic reticulum. ► The MIT domain recruits spastin to endosomes and the cytokinetic midbody. ► Spastin regulates microtubules in relation to sites of membrane modelling.