How many ATP molecules are produced per glucose molecule during glycolysis?

During glycolysis, one molecule of glucose is metabolized to produce a net yield of 2 ATP. This process occurs in the cytoplasm and consists of several enzymatic reactions that convert glucose into two molecules of pyruvate.

Initially, two ATP molecules are consumed in the early stages of glycolysis to phosphorylate glucose and its intermediates. However, later in the pathway, four ATP molecules are generated through substrate-level phosphorylation. This results in a gross production of 4 ATP molecules. Nonetheless, after accounting for the 2 ATP molecules that were consumed, the net gain is 2 ATP.

Glycolysis is crucial as it not only produces ATP but also generates NADH, which can be further utilized in aerobic respiration or fermentation pathways. Therefore, the correct answer, which reflects the net ATP produced during glycolysis per glucose molecule, is 2 ATP.