Catalyzes the first step in the biosynthesis of coenzyme A from vitamin B5, where cysteine is conjugated to 4'-phosphopantothenate to form 4-phosphopantothenoylcysteine. (R)-4'-phosphopantothenate + CTP + L-cysteine = CMP + diphosphate + H(+) + N-[(R)-4-phosphopantothenoyl]-L-cysteine Cofactor biosynthesis; coenzyme A biosynthesis; CoA from (R)-pantothenate: step 2/5. Homodimer. Present with 3170 molecules/cell in log phase SD medium. Belongs to the PPC synthetase family.