Catalyzes the ATP-dependent phosphorylation of maltose to maltose 1-phosphate. Only maltose acts effectively as phosphoryl-group acceptor, but maltotriose, maltotetraose, maltopentaose, and maltohexaose show a weak potential to replace maltose. ATP is not replaceable as phosphoryl-group donor. ATP + D-maltose = ADP + alpha-maltose 1-phosphate + H(+) Inhibited by EDTA. Optimum pH is 8.5. Optimum temperature is 55 degrees Celsius. The enzyme activity decreases rapidly at temperatures above 60 degrees Celsius. Glycan biosynthesis; glycogen biosynthesis. Monomer. Constitutively expressed. In the presence of 20 mM MgCl(2), the addition of CaCl(2), CoCl(2), FeSO(4), MnCl(2), BaCl(2) or CuCl(2) at a concentration of 1 mM to the enzyme assay led to a decrease of activity between 20% (FeSO(4)) and 83% (CoCl(2)). Belongs to the aminoglycoside phosphotransferase family.