Essential protein, it is the only enzyme in yeast capable of synthesizing thiamine pyrophosphate (TPP). ATP + thiamine = AMP + H(+) + thiamine diphosphate Cofactor biosynthesis; thiamine diphosphate biosynthesis; thiamine diphosphate from thiamine: step 1/1. Homodimer. Expression requires the positive regulatory factors THI2 and THI3 (PubMed:8394343). Incompletely repressed by exogenous thiamine pyrophosphokinase (PubMed:8394343). Present with 3320 molecules/cell in log phase SD medium. Belongs to the thiamine pyrophosphokinase family.