Final answer:
The glycerol component of fats enters glycolysis after being converted to dihydroxyacetone phosphate (DHAP), making option E (glycolysis; dihydroxyacetone phosphate) the correct answer.
Step-by-step explanation:
When utilizing fats as an energy source, the glycerol portion enters the glycolysis when it has been converted to dihydroxyacetone phosphate (DHAP). Therefore, the correct answer to the question is E) glycolysis; dihydroxyacetone phosphate.
During the process of lipolysis, triglycerides are broken down to release fatty acids and glycerol. The fatty acids undergo ß-oxidation to form acetyl CoA, which then enters the Krebs cycle, also known as the citric acid cycle or the tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle. During this cycle, energy is harvested in the form of high-energy molecules like ATP, NADH, and FADH2. The glycerol, on the other hand, is converted to DHAP and enters the glycolysis pathway, which is the initial stage of cellular respiration and leads to the production of pyruvate.