Catalyzes the reversible phosphorylation of S-methyl-5'-thioadenosine (MTA) to adenine and 5-methylthioribose-1-phosphate. Involved in the breakdown of MTA, a major by-product of polyamine biosynthesis. Responsible for the first step in the methionine salvage pathway after MTA has been generated from S-adenosylmethionine. Has broad substrate specificity with 6-aminopurine nucleosides as preferred substrates. phosphate + S-methyl-5'-thioadenosine = adenine + S-methyl-5-thio-alpha-D-ribose 1-phosphate Amino-acid biosynthesis; L-methionine biosynthesis via salvage pathway; S-methyl-5-thio-alpha-D-ribose 1-phosphate from S-methyl-5'-thioadenosine (phosphorylase route): step 1/1. Homotrimer. Belongs to the PNP/MTAP phosphorylase family. MTAP subfamily.