Acts both as a biotin--[acetyl-CoA-carboxylase] ligase and a biotin-operon repressor. In the presence of ATP, BirA activates biotin to form the BirA-biotinyl-5'-adenylate (BirA-bio-5'-AMP or holoBirA) complex. HoloBirA can either transfer the biotinyl moiety to the biotin carboxyl carrier protein (BCCP) subunit of acetyl-CoA carboxylase, or bind to the biotin operator site and inhibit transcription of the operon. ATP + biotin + L-lysyl-[protein] = AMP + diphosphate + H(+) + N(6)-biotinyl-L-lysyl-[protein] Belongs to the biotin--protein ligase family.