Involved in the Preiss-Handler pathway, which is a recycling route that permits the salvage of free nicotinamide (NM) and nicotinic acid (Na) involved in the NAD biosynthesis. Catalyzes the synthesis of beta-nicotinate D-ribonucleotide from nicotinate and 5-phospho-D-ribose 1-phosphate at the expense of ATP. It is not able to use nicotinamide. PncB2 appears to be responsible for the increased salvage synthesis of NAD during infection of host tissues. 5-phospho-alpha-D-ribose 1-diphosphate + ATP + H2O + nicotinate = ADP + diphosphate + nicotinate beta-D-ribonucleotide + phosphate Cofactor biosynthesis; NAD(+) biosynthesis; nicotinate D-ribonucleotide from nicotinate: step 1/1. A member of the dormancy regulon. Induced in response to reduced oxygen tension (hypoxia), low levels of nitric oxide (NO) and carbon monoxide (CO). It is hoped that this regulon will give insight into the latent, or dormant phase of infection. Transiently phosphorylated on a His residue during the reaction cycle. Phosphorylation strongly increases the affinity for substrates and increases the rate of nicotinate D-ribonucleotide production. Dephosphorylation regenerates the low-affinity form of the enzyme, leading to product release. Double mutants lacking both pncB1 and pncB2 show an absence of incorporation of nicotinamide. Belongs to the NAPRTase family.