This enzyme is a multi-domain polypeptide that catalyses three different activities - a biotin carboxyl-carrier protein (BCCP), a biotin carboxylase that catalyses the transfer of a carboxyl group from hydrogencarbonate to the biotin molecule carried by the carrier protein, and the transfer of the carboxyl group from biotin to acetyl-CoA, forming malonyl-CoA. In some organisms these activities are catalysed by separate enzymes (see EC
6.3.4.14, biotin carboxylase, and EC
2.1.3.15, acetyl-CoA carboxytransferase). The carboxylation of the carrier protein requires ATP, while the transfer of the carboxyl group to acetyl-CoA does not.