How many molecules of ATP are produced from one molecule of glucose during glycolysis?

Glycolysis is the metabolic pathway that converts glucose into pyruvate, generating energy in the form of ATP. During glycolysis, a net gain of 2 ATP molecules per molecule of glucose occurs. The process involves the investment of 2 ATP at the beginning to facilitate the breakdown of glucose, which is then followed by the production of 4 ATP through substrate-level phosphorylation.

In this context, it’s important to recognize that while 4 ATP molecules are generated, the initial investment of 2 ATP means that the net gain is indeed 2 ATP molecules for each molecule of glucose processed. Therefore, the correct answer reflects the net production, which is crucial in understanding the overall energy yield from glycolysis.

Other choices do not accurately represent the ATP yield in glycolysis specifically. The total ATP yield associated with cellular respiration, including other stages like the Krebs cycle and oxidative phosphorylation, exceeds this initial net gain from glycolysis, which is why they do not apply to the glycolytic process itself.