[Isoform 1]: Catalyzes the phosphorylation of pantothenate to generate 4'-phosphopantothenate in the first and rate-determining step of coenzyme A (CoA) synthesis. {ECO:0000269|PubMed:14523052, ECO:0000269|PubMed:17631502}. This is the function of PANK1 (pantothenate kinase 1, ENSG00000152782).