What happens to glucose during cellular respiration?

Glucose plays a crucial role in cellular respiration, which is the process by which cells convert glucose, along with oxygen (in aerobic conditions), into energy in the form of adenosine triphosphate (ATP). During cellular respiration, glucose undergoes a series of metabolic pathways, starting with glycolysis, where it is broken down into two molecules of pyruvate. This process releases energy that is captured in the form of ATP. The pyruvate then enters the mitochondria, where it undergoes further breakdown in the Krebs cycle, resulting in the production of more energy-carrying molecules. Ultimately, the electrons from these processes are used in the electron transport chain to produce a significant amount of ATP. This fundamental breakdown of glucose is essential for providing energy to the cells for various functions, including muscle contraction, synthesis of macromolecules, and maintaining homeostasis.

The other choices do not accurately reflect what occurs during cellular respiration. While glucose can be synthesized in the body or converted into fat or protein under certain conditions, these processes do not describe the primary function of glucose metabolism in the context of energy production during cellular respiration.