Biological studies indicated that the natural substrate had no effect on cell viability in myelin basic protein (MBP+) oligodendrocytes, while the fluorinated derivative surprisingly upregulated oligodendrocyte differentiation and is being further evaluated as a therapeutic agent to inhibit demyelination, potentially offering a therapy for re-myelination of nerves in individuals affected with multiple sclerosis. The gene discussed is MBP; the disease is multiple sclerosis.