Let's create an alien biosphere!

[MathAndCode]

They did? Could you remind me of it?

They attached sulfite to sulfate, which also resulted in two extra electrons.

[Schiaparelliorbust]

They attached sulfite to sulfate, which also resulted in two extra electrons.

And how does that oxidize sulfur dioxide?

[MathAndCode]

And how does that oxidize sulfur dioxide?

The sulfur atom in sulfite donates a lone pair to an oxygen atom in sulfate, resulting in a single bond.

[Schiaparelliorbust]

The sulfur atom in sulfite donates a lone pair to an oxygen atom in sulfate, resulting in a single bond.

And this then somehow forms sulfuric acid.

[MathAndCode]

And this then somehow forms sulfuric acid.

The hydrons don't have to be attached to the sulfate in order for the solution to be acidic.

[Schiaparelliorbust]

The hydrons don't have to be attached to the sulfate in order for the solution to be acidic.

Where did the hydrons come from?

[MathAndCode]

Where did the hydrons come from?

electrostatic attraction

[Schiaparelliorbust]

electrostatic attraction

Oh ok. All that matters is that this creates sulfuric acid, right? Correct me if I'm mistaken, my chemistry is terrible.

[MathAndCode]

Oh ok. All that matters is that this creates sulfuric acid, right? Correct me if I'm mistaken, my chemistry is terrible.

Yes, it's equivalent to a sulfuric acid solution.

[Schiaparelliorbust]

Yes, it's equivalent to a sulfuric acid solution.

And this forms naturally, so both predators and prey will both be used to acidic conditions, but it will still denature the protein spikes, right?

[MathAndCode]

And this forms naturally, so both predators and prey will both be used to acidic conditions, but it will still denature the protein spikes, right?

Yes, although come to think of it, I'm not sure how acidic the solution will be. I suppose that it depends on the concentration of sulfuric acid/bisulfate/sulfate.

[Schiaparelliorbust]

Yes, although come to think of it, I'm not sure how acidic the solution will be. I suppose that it depends on the concentration of sulfuric acid/bisulfate/sulfate.

Wouldn't the naturally occuring acid denature the protein spikes actually?

[MathAndCode]

Wouldn't the naturally occuring acid denature the protein spikes actually?

No because they would have evolved to handle that level of acidity.

[Schiaparelliorbust]

No because they would have evolved to handle that level of acidity.

Would the secreted sulfuric acid then kill the prey?

[MathAndCode]

Would the secreted sulfuric acid then kill the prey?

That depends on how acidic the solution would be relative to the natural environment.

[Schiaparelliorbust]

That depends on how acidic the solution would be relative to the natural environment.

If it's enough to denature the protein spikes then it may be lethal. I'm not entirely sure though.

[MathAndCode]

If it's enough to denature the protein spikes then it may be lethal. I'm not entirely sure though.

I'm not sure that the concentration of sulfate will be large enough for that to happen.

[Schiaparelliorbust]

I'm not sure that the concentration of sulfate will be large enough for that to happen.

Ok, let's go wiith what you say here.

[MathAndCode]

Ok, let's go wiith what you say here.

Do you have any other ideas?

[Schiaparelliorbust]

Do you have any other ideas?

I can't think of any other way to neutralize the spikes, so no.

[MathAndCode]

I can't think of any other way to neutralize the spikes, so no.

Possibilities include excreting a small molecule that can denature the spikes and the cell membrane evolving to be resistant to the spikes. Neither seems very likely, though.

[Schiaparelliorbust]

Possibilities include excreting a small molecule that can denature the spikes and the cell membrane evolving to be resistant to the spikes. Neither seems very likely, though.

I don't know too much about the former, but something like a double membrane sounds unlikely (unless you can think of some way it could evolve), so let's just go with the sulfuric acid.

[MathAndCode]

I don't know too much about the former, but something like a double membrane sounds unlikely (unless you can think of some way it could evolve), so let's just go with the sulfuric acid.

The membranes are naturally double because phospholipids have a hydrophilic part and hydrophobic part, but that means that the spike proteins would already work on double membranes.

[Schiaparelliorbust]

The membranes are naturally double because phospholipids have a hydrophilic part and hydrophobic part, but that means that the spike proteins would already work on double membranes.

Do you think they could perhaps repair torn membranes? They could send a vesicle (which I think would be pulled in the direction of the tear because of stuff moving outside) and it would fuse with the membrane fixing the tear.

[MathAndCode]

Do you think they could perhaps repair torn membranes? They could send a vesicle (which I think would be pulled in the direction of the tear because of stuff moving outside) and it would fuse with the membrane fixing the tear.

They'd have to evolve a way to do that anyway because their membranes would accumulate wear and tear over time even without predation. However, it probably wouldn't be fast enough.