Catalyzes the committed step of phosphatidylethanolamine synthesis via the CDP-ethanolamine branch of the Kennedy pathway. Also exhibits choline kinase activity, thus contributing to phosphatidylcholine synthesis via the CDP-choline pathway, but its preferred substrate is ethanolamine. ATP + ethanolamine = ADP + H(+) + phosphoethanolamine ATP + choline = ADP + H(+) + phosphocholine Phospholipid metabolism; phosphatidylethanolamine biosynthesis; phosphatidylethanolamine from ethanolamine: step 1/3. Induced by zinc-depletion via the transcription factor ZAP1. Expression is sensitive to intracellular zinc levels (PubMed:16551612). Repressed by inositol (PubMed:15201274). Present with 3420 molecules/cell in log phase SD medium. Belongs to the choline/ethanolamine kinase family.