Catalyzes the phosphorylation of methylthioribose into methylthioribose-1-phosphate (PubMed:31950558). Also catalyzes the phosphorylation of 5-deoxyribose to 5-deoxyribose-1-phosphate (PubMed:31950558). Part of a bifunctional DHAP-shunt salvage pathway for SAM by-products (PubMed:31950558). 5-(methylsulfanyl)-D-ribose + ATP = ADP + H(+) + S-methyl-5-thio-alpha-D-ribose 1-phosphate 5-deoxy-D-ribose + ATP = 5-deoxy-alpha-D-ribose 1-phosphate + ADP + H(+) kcat is 10.6 sec(-1) with 5-methythioribose as substrate. kcat is 16.1 sec(-1) with 5-deoxyribose as substrate. kcat is 5.4 sec(-1) with S-ribosyl-L-homocysteine as substrate. kcat is 11.6 sec(-1) with ribose as substrate. kcat is 14.1 with ATP as substrate. Amino-acid biosynthesis; L-methionine biosynthesis via salvage pathway; S-methyl-5-thio-alpha-D-ribose 1-phosphate from S-methyl-5'-thioadenosine (hydrolase route): step 2/2. Homodimer. Inactivation of the gene precludes growth of the strain with 5-deoxyribose. Belongs to the methylthioribose kinase family.