What are RNA molecules that act as enzymes called?

RNA molecules that act as enzymes are known as ribozymes. These unique types of RNA have the ability to catalyze chemical reactions, similar to the way traditional enzymes, which are typically proteins, function. Ribozymes play a crucial role in various biological processes, including the processing of pre-messenger RNA (pre-mRNA) and the self-splicing of introns. Their discovery challenged the traditional view of enzymes being exclusively protein-based, highlighting the versatility and complexity of RNA beyond its role in merely serving as a template for protein synthesis.

Proteins serve as conventional enzymes due to their ability to catalyze reactions with precise specificity and efficiency. Deoxyribozymes are specific types of DNA molecules that can catalyze reactions, but they are not RNA and thus do not fall under the category of ribozymes. The term "enzyzomes" does not refer to any recognized biological molecules and is not relevant to the question. This makes ribozymes the correct and appropriate answer to the inquiry about RNA-based catalytic molecules.