Albinism is associated with a mutation in an enzyme that converts which amino acid to melanin?

Albinism is linked to mutations affecting the enzyme tyrosinase, which is crucial in the biochemical pathway that converts the amino acid tyrosine into melanin, the pigment responsible for color in skin, hair, and eyes. The process begins with the hydroxylation of phenylalanine into tyrosine, followed by the oxidation of tyrosine into dihydroxyphenylalanine (DOPA), and subsequently further conversions lead to the formation of melanin.

In individuals with albinism, deficiencies in tyrosinase result in a reduced ability to produce melanin, leading to the characteristic lack of pigmentation. This deficiency contrasts sharply with other amino acids listed. Arginine and glycine are not involved in melanin production, and while tryptophan has several important biological roles, it does not directly relate to the synthesis of melanin. Therefore, tyrosine is the correct answer because it is the precursor specifically utilized in the pathway leading to melanin synthesis, making it central to the condition of albinism.