Members of this family may be involved in the activation of nickel-pincer cofactor-dependent enzymes. LarC from Lactobacillus plantarum is involved, together with LarB and LarE, in the synthesis of the enzyme-bound cofactor of lactate racemase (LarA). Larc C binds Ni2+, and functions in nickel delivery to pyridinium-3,5-bisthiocarboxylic acid mononucleotide (P2TMN), to form the mature cofactor [1,2].

1: Lactate racemase is a nickel-dependent enzyme activated by a widespread maturation system. Desguin B, Goffin P, Viaene E, Kleerebezem M, Martin-Diaconescu V, Maroney MJ, Declercq JP, Soumillion P, Hols P; Nat Commun. 2014;5:3615. PMID:24710389

2: Nickel-pincer cofactor biosynthesis involves LarB-catalyzed pyridinium carboxylation and LarE-dependent sacrificial sulfur insertion. Desguin B, Soumillion P, Hols P, Hausinger RP; Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2016;113:5598-5603. PMID:27114550