Where must an organism obtain the enzyme if it is unable to produce it?

When an organism is unable to produce a specific enzyme, obtaining it from the environment is the most plausible option. This can occur in various ways. For instance, some organisms may rely on external sources to meet their biochemical needs, such as symbiotic relationships where they gain enzymes produced by other organisms in their surroundings.

In many ecosystems, enzymes can naturally occur in the environment within organic matter, and some organisms, particularly decomposers, can obtain necessary enzymes from their decomposition of these materials. This external acquisition is crucial for the organism's metabolic processes.

While obtaining an enzyme from a neighboring organism, stored reserves, or diet might seem viable options, they can be less guaranteed or applicable in different contexts, making environmental acquisition a universally relevant choice for some organisms unable to produce certain enzymes.