Final answer:
The enzymatic conversion of glucose to pyruvate involves ten steps in a pathway called glycolysis, resulting in the production of ATP and NADH. The correct answer is D) 10.
Step-by-step explanation:
The process of converting glucose to pyruvate is known as glycolysis, which is a critical step in cellular respiration. This pathway occurs in the cytoplasm of cells and is crucial for the production of ATP, which is the energy currency of the cell. The conversion involves ten enzymatic steps, and during these steps, glucose undergoes a series of transformations, including phosphorylation, isomerization, and cleavage, eventually resulting in the formation of two molecules of pyruvate. Glycolysis yields a net gain of two molecules of ATP and two molecules of NADH per molecule of glucose.
It's important to note that besides the ten steps of glycolysis, pyruvate may undergo further transformations in subsequent pathways such as the Krebs cycle and oxidative phosphorylation. However, these are separate processes that occur after glycolysis is completed. Therefore, when discussing the enzymatic steps directly involved in the conversion of glucose to pyruvate, the correct answer is D) 10.