Final answer:
The enzymatic activity of self-splicing RNA depends on the complex secondary structure formed by the RNA molecules. This structure is important for catalyzing the splicing process by recognizing specific sequences.
Step-by-step explanation:
The enzymatic activity of self-splicing RNA depends on the complex secondary structure that the RNA molecules can form. This is due to the propensity of single stranded RNA molecules to fold based on internal hydrogen bonding, which leads to the formation of diverse three-dimensional shapes (tertiary structure). The secondary structure of self-splicing RNA is crucial for the RNA to catalyze the splicing process by recognizing sequences at the 5' and 3' end of the intron.