Involved in the biosynthesis of a nickel-pincer cofactor ((SCS)Ni(II) pincer complex). Binds Ni(2+), and functions in nickel delivery to pyridinium-3,5-bisthiocarboxylic acid mononucleotide (P2TMN), to form the mature cofactor. Is required for the activation of the lactate racemase LarA. May also be involved in the activation of other nickel-pincer cofactor-dependent enzymes. Ni(II)-pyridinium-3,5-bisthiocarboxylate mononucleotide = Ni(2+) + pyridinium-3,5-bisthiocarboxylate mononucleotide Induced by L-lactate and repressed by D-lactate. Is thus regulated by the L-lactate/D-lactate ratio. Makes part of the lar operon (larABCDE). Deletion of this gene leads to a loss of lactate racemase activity. Expression of the full-length LarC protein requires a -1 ribosomal frameshift to allow contiguous translation of larC1 and larC2 ORFs, leading to the functional form of the protein. The exact position of the frameshift cannot be determined but likely occurs in the stretch of 10 consecutive adenines present at the end of larC1. Produced from conventional translation of the larC1 ORF. Expression of LarC1 alone does not show lactate racemase activity. Belongs to the LarC family. The exact position of the ribosomal frameshift cannot be determined but likely occurs in the 10 consecutive adenines present at the end of larC1.