The phosphorylation of phosphatidylinositol (PI) to PI4P is the first committed step in the generation of phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate (PIP2), a precursor of the second messenger inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate (InsP3). a 1,2-diacyl-sn-glycero-3-phospho-(1D-myo-inositol) + ATP = a 1,2-diacyl-sn-glycero-3-phospho-(1D-myo-inositol 4-phosphate) + ADP + H(+) Interacts with AHK2. Belongs to the PI3/PI4-kinase family. Type II PI4K subfamily.