Works with phosphate acetyltransferase (pta) to capture exogenous propionate and regenerate propionyl-CoA during degradation of 1,2-propanediol (1,2-PD). Expression of a cosmid containing the full 21-gene pdu operon in E.coli allows E.coli to grow on 1,2-propanediol (1,2-PD) with the appearance of bacterial microcompartments (BMC) in its cytoplasm. ATP + propanoate = ADP + propanoyl phosphate Polyol metabolism; 1,2-propanediol degradation. Belongs to the acetokinase family. PduW subfamily.