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. PncB1 contributes to basal NAD level. 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. 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. Cells lacking this gene show a reduced incorporation of nicotinamide. Double mutants lacking both pncB1 and pncB2 show an absence of incorporation of nicotinamide. Belongs to the NAPRTase family.