Pyridoxal kinase involved in the salvage pathway of pyridoxal 5'-phosphate (PLP). Catalyzes the phosphorylation of pyridoxal to PLP in vivo, but shows very low activity compared to PdxK. Displays a low level of pyridoxine kinase activity when overexpressed, which is however not physiologically relevant. ATP + pyridoxal = ADP + H(+) + pyridoxal 5'-phosphate Cofactor metabolism; pyridoxal 5'-phosphate salvage; pyridoxal 5'-phosphate from pyridoxal: step 1/1. Homodimer. Cells lacking this gene and cells lacking both pdxY and pdxK are not auxotrophs, meaning that the de novo pathway of PLP biosynthesis is functional. For PLP salvage, the pdxY single mutant can use both pyridoxine and pyridoxal, the pdxK single mutant can use pyridoxal but not pyridoxine, and the double mutant can no longer use both compounds. Belongs to the pyridoxine kinase family. PdxY subfamily.