Effect of hyphal stimulation on total cellular RNA in Candida albicans and simultaneous assessment of protein content and of viability by XTT assay.

A. Bars represent ratios of total RNA after stimulation to total RNA prior to stimulation. Error bars represent SD. Assays lasted 30 minutes except where otherwise noted. Significant decreases of RNA were seen with water plus 10% FBS for 30 min (p = 0.0004), same assay for 60 min (p = 0.01) and water alone (p = 0.001). FBS alone also showed decrease but it did not reach significant levels. YPD alone increased RNA. B. Protein extraction run simultaneously with RNA extraction from cells exposed to water plus 10% FBS for 30 and 60 minutes. Bars represent ratios of total protein or RNA after stimulation to those prior to stimulation. Error bars represent SD. Protein content remains stable while RNA content is decreased. C. XTT assays run simultaneously with conditions mirroring those of part A. Bars represent ratios of absorbance after stimulation to those before stimulation. Error bars represent SD. All except water show increase indicating no loss in viability and increasing metabolic activity.