Abstract： Objective To investigate the effect of electron transfer system on the hyphal formation of Candida albicans. Methods Candida albicans was cultured in RPMI 1640 supplemented with 10% new-born calf serum in 5% CO2 at 37 ℃ with or without the presence of inhibitors or activators of electron transfer system. Growth curve, morphology and percent of filamentation were observed for Candida albicans. MTT assay was used to assess the viability of Candida albicans. Results The solvents (chloroform and dimethyl sulfoxide) had no significant effect on the growth of and filamentation in Candida albicans. After incubation with thenoyltrifluoroacetone (TTFA) or benzhydroxamic acid for 24 hours, yeast cells of Candida albicans predominated in the culture. The growth of Candida albicans was significantly inhibited in log phase by the incubation with classic respiratory chain inhibitors such as rotenone, antimycin A, oligomycin, sodium azide, TTFA and sodium malonate, compared with the controls (all P < 0.01). Benzhydroxamic acid, an inhibitor of alternative oxidative pathway, also significantly inhibited the growth of Candida albicans in log phase (t = 10.92, P < 0.01). After incubation with rotenone, antimycin A, oligomycin, sodium azide, TTFA, sodium malonate, benzhydroxamic acid and disodium gnanylate, the percentage of filamentation in Candida albicans at 12 hours was 87.49 ± 0.52, 48.75 ± 4.44, 50.33 ± 8.50, 99.00 ± 1.00, 1.60 ± 0.53, 94.01 ± 0.99, 0.00 ± 0.00 and 92.33 ± 2.08, respectively, and the growth of Candida albicans at 7 hours was inhibited by (1.34 ± 0.15)%, (70.61 ± 1.02)%, (50.63 ± 5.38)%, (17.80 ± 7.89)%, (45.17 ± 1.27)%, (10.75 ± 3.62)%, (72.46 ± 1.14)% and -(5.96 ± 4.07)%, respectively. Conclusions Hyphal formation of Candida albicans could be suppressed by inhibitors of classic respiratory chain or alternative oxidative pathway, and is mainly regulated by alternative oxidative pathway.