Catalyzes the activation of long-chain fatty acids as acyl-adenylates (acyl-AMP), which are then transferred to the multifunctional polyketide synthase PpsA for further chain extension. Catalyzes the adenylation of the long-chain fatty acids eicosanoate (C20) or docosanoate (C22), and potentially the very-long-chain fatty acid lignocerate (C24). Involved in the biosynthesis of phthiocerol dimycocerosate (DIM A) and phthiodiolone dimycocerosate (DIM B). a long-chain fatty acid + ATP + holo-[(phenol)carboxyphthiodiolenone synthase] = a long-chain fatty acyl-[(phenol)carboxyphthiodiolenone synthase] + AMP + diphosphate ATP + eicosanoate + holo-[(phenol)carboxyphthiodiolenone synthase] = AMP + diphosphate + icosanoyl-[(phenol)carboxyphthiodiolenone synthase] ATP + docosanoate + holo-[(phenol)carboxyphthiodiolenone synthase] = AMP + diphosphate + docosanoyl-[(phenol)carboxyphthiodiolenone synthase] Lipid metabolism; fatty acid biosynthesis. Disruption of the gene abolishes the production of phthiocerol dimycocerosate (DIM A) and of phthiodiolone dimycocerosate (DIM B). Mutant can still produce mycoside B. Belongs to the ATP-dependent AMP-binding enzyme family.