Let's create an alien biosphere!

[Schiaparelliorbust]

That's correct.

So the scavengers will go on to digest proteins. What other large molecules do our cells use?
Edit: Could they chain glycerol together?

[MathAndCode]

So the scavengers will go on to digest proteins. What other large molecules do our cells use?

pretty much any biomolecules that they share in common

Could they chain glycerol together?

Yes.

[Schiaparelliorbust]

pretty much any biomolecules that they share in common

AFAIK we don't have any form of carbohydrates on this planet so they can't chain them.

Yes.

I can't find anything on pure glycerol chains. I can only find them in lipid chains. If they make them would they make them saturated or unsatured? At room temperature they are respectively solid and liquid, though it might not matter too muchnear hydrothermal vents because of the heat.

[MathAndCode]

AFAIK we don't have any form of carbohydrates on this planet so they can't chain them.

I meant the predators and the prey.

I can't find anything on pure glycerol chains. I can only find them in lipid chains. If they make them would they make them saturated or unsatured? At room temperature they are respectively solid and liquid, though it might not matter too muchnear hydrothermal vents because of the heat.

There's nothing that I know of preventing them from chaining glycerol molecules.

[Aleph]

At room temperature they are respectively solid and liquid, though it might not matter too muchnear hydrothermal vents because of the heat.

Supercritical glycerol?

[Schiaparelliorbust]

There's nothing that I know of preventing them from chaining glycerol molecules.

Good. Could they use it structurally or just for energy?

Supercritical glycerol?

Hm. The critical point of glycerol is 850 K (577 °C), 7500 kPa. Most hydrothermal vents are found at 2100m and below, and the pressure I found for that depth is 21079.98 kPa. It would be slightly higher on this planet due to increased gravity and consequently probably deeper waters, though I don't think that should matter much. The temperature is a bit too low though (around 370°C), but it might be higher on this planet because it is younger and more tectonically active (also due to its size). Also:

Due to the high hydrostatic pressure at these depths, water may exist in either its liquid form or as a supercritical fluid at such temperatures.

Although supercritical conditions have been observed at several sites, it is not yet known what significance, if any, supercritical venting has in terms of hydrothermal circulation, mineral deposit formation, geochemical fluxes or biological activity.

[MathAndCode]

There's nothing that I know of preventing them from chaining glycerol molecules.

either

[Schiaparelliorbust]

either

So can we make the predators now?

[MathAndCode]

So can we make the predators now?

Yes.

[Schiaparelliorbust]

Yes.

Predators need to be able to move. We were talking about flagella or protein spikes. Do you think jet propulsion is viable?

[MathAndCode]

Predators need to be able to move. We were talking about flagella or protein spikes. Do you think jet propulsion is viable?

Jet propulsion could evolve from a contractile vacuole used to maintain a low internal osmolarity, but I don't think that any organisms would have that yet, and I can't think of another conceivable way for jet propulsion to evolve.

[Schiaparelliorbust]

Jet propulsion could evolve from a contractile vacuole used to maintain a low internal osmolarity, but I don't think that any organisms would have that yet, and I can't think of another conceivable way for jet propulsion to evolve.

Maybe they could evolve "limbs" to paddle or walk short distances.

[MathAndCode]

Maybe they could evolve "limbs" to paddle or walk short distances.

Maybe they could evolve to grow extensions in order to reach for nutrients, and that could lead to limbs?

[Schiaparelliorbust]

Maybe they could evolve to grow extensions in order to reach for nutrients, and that could lead to limbs?

That and/or a reason to increase their surface area relative to their volume maybe.

[MathAndCode]

That and/or a reason to increase their surface area relative to their volume maybe.

Yes, but smaller organisms don't have to worry about that as much.

[Schiaparelliorbust]

Yes, but smaller organisms don't have to worry about that as much.

Yeah, you're right. They could also use their limbs to attack. Like they could squeeze their prey to death. Engulfing might also work.

[MathAndCode]

Like they could squeeze their prey to death.

I don't think that that would be very viable. Remember that there are not any multicellular organisms yet.

Engulfing might also work.

Yes, that seems likely.

[Schiaparelliorbust]

I don't think that that would be very viable. Remember that there are not any multicellular organisms yet.

If the predator is significantly larger than the prey I think it could work, but at that point engulfingprobably be more likely anyway.

Yes, that seems likely.

Then they would need to develop an organelle for digestion.

[MathAndCode]

Then they would need to develop an organelle for digestion.

Yes. They could probably carry their prey to it via a transport vesicle.

[Schiaparelliorbust]

Yes. They could probably carry their prey to it via a transport vesicle.

I guess the vesicle would form from part of their membrane. They will also need a way to dispose waste (probaly by using vesicles again). Anything else?

[MathAndCode]

They will also need a way to dispose waste (probaly by using vesicles again).

All organisms would need to do that, but if the decay products are all small molecules, then they can diffuse out easily without vesicles. How thoroughly do you think the predators will digest their prey?

Anything else?

They would need some digestive enzymes in order to break through the cell membrane. They also might need to worry about neutralizing reactive oxygen species.

[Schiaparelliorbust]

All organisms would need to do that, but if the decay products are all small molecules, then they can diffuse out easily without vesicles. How thoroughly do you think the predators will digest their prey?

They'll probably digest all lipids but they might just leave more complex molecules like proteins because they don't give that much energy and/or are hard to break down.

They would need some digestive enzymes in order to break through the cell membrane. They also might need to worry about neutralizing reactive oxygen species.

We had said that they would use antioxidants like hydrogen peroxide to neutralize them. As for digestive enzymes, I don't know too much.

[MathAndCode]

They'll probably digest all lipids but they might just leave more complex molecules like proteins because they don't give that much energy and/or are hard to break down.

They could probably use the amino acids, though.

We had said that they would use antioxidants like hydrogen peroxide to neutralize them. As for digestive enzymes, I don't know too much.

I don't think that adding hydrogen peroxide is going to solve the problem. However, Earth life has other compounds that it can use, and I know that at least one uses sulfur. The organisms on the alien planet will be able to get sulfur more easily due to the planet's increased geologic activity, so I'm sure that they'll be fine.

[Schiaparelliorbust]

They could probably use the amino acids, though.

If they can find a way to depolymerize the proteins.

I don't think that adding hydrogen peroxide is going to solve the problem. However, Earth life has other compounds that it can use, and I know that at least one uses sulfur. The organisms on the alien planet will be able to get sulfur more easily due to the planet's increased geologic activity, so I'm sure that they'll be fine.

Yes, sulfur is good. Is there a specific compund theg might use (or does that not matter)?

[MathAndCode]

They could probably use the amino acids, though.

They would probably develop a way to do that anyway in order to be able to recycle their own proteins.

Yes, sulfur is good. Is there a specific compund theg might use (or does that not matter)?

One example is glutathione.