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 (PubMed:25561717). Catalyzes the adenylation of the long-chain fatty acids eicosanoate (C20) or docosanoate (C22), and potentially the very-long-chain fatty acid lignocerate (C24) (By similarity). Involved in the biosynthesis of phthiocerol dimycocerosate (DIM A) and phthiodiolone dimycocerosate (DIM B) (PubMed:25561717) (By similarity). 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. Deletion of the gene produces selective loss of phthiocerol dimycocerosates (PDIMs). Belongs to the ATP-dependent AMP-binding enzyme family.