motility

Ability to move spontaneously. The term is often restricted to those cells that are capable of independent locomotion, such as spermatozoa. Many single-celled organisms are motile, for example, the amoeba. Research has shown that cells capable of movement, including vertebrate muscle cells, have certain biochemical features in common. Filaments of the proteins actin and myosin are associated with motility, as are the metabolic processes needed for breaking down the energy-rich compound ATP (adenosine triphosphate).