How many ATP molecules does glycolysis produce from one molecule of glucose?

Glycolysis is the metabolic pathway that breaks down one molecule of glucose to ultimately produce energy in the form of ATP. In the process of glycolysis, a single glucose molecule is converted into two molecules of pyruvate. During this conversion, glycolysis involves several key steps that yield ATP and other energy carriers.

From one molecule of glucose, glycolysis produces a net gain of two ATP molecules. This net gain is due to the initial investment of two ATP molecules in the early stages of the pathway, which are used to phosphorylate glucose and its intermediates. As the pathway progresses, four ATP molecules are generated through substrate-level phosphorylation. However, after accounting for the two ATP molecules that were consumed, the overall net production is two ATP molecules.

In summary, glycolysis results in the net production of two ATP molecules from one glucose molecule, highlighting the efficiency of this central metabolic process in cellular respiration.