Final answer:
Cholesterol synthesis in cells begins with acetyl-CoA, a component derived from pyruvate following glycolysis. Acetyl-CoA then enters the mevalonate pathway, leading to the production of cholesterol.The correct answer is (A).
Step-by-step explanation:
The cholesterol synthesized by cells uses acetyl-CoA as a starting point from the glycolytic pathway. During glycolysis, glucose is broken down into pyruvate, which is then converted into acetyl-CoA in the mitochondria. This acetyl-CoA is crucial for the synthesis of cholesterol.
It serves as the building block for the mevalonate pathway, where several molecules of acetyl-CoA combine to form hydroxymethylglutaryl CoA (HMG CoA), which is then further processed to produce cholesterol. This is a complex process involving multiple steps and enzymes, but it starts with acetyl-CoA, linking the metabolism of carbohydrates and fats.
The cholesterol synthesized by cells uses acetyl-CoA as a starting point in the glycolytic pathway. Acetyl-CoA is produced in the mitochondria from pyruvate, which is one of the end products of glycolysis. It then serves as the building block for cholesterol synthesis.