Catalyzes the condensation of pantoate with beta-alanine in an ATP-dependent reaction via a pantoyl-adenylate intermediate. (R)-pantoate + ATP + beta-alanine = (R)-pantothenate + AMP + diphosphate + H(+) Pantothenate exhibits uncompetitive inhibition toward both D-pantoate and ATP, and non-competitive inhibition toward beta-alanine. AMPCPP exhibits competitive inhibition toward ATP, uncompetitive inhibition toward beta-alanine, and non-competitive inhibition toward D-pantoate. The enzyme is most active in the presence of magnesium or manganese. Other divalent cations (cobalt, nickel, zinc) are less effective. Cofactor biosynthesis; (R)-pantothenate biosynthesis; (R)-pantothenate from (R)-pantoate and beta-alanine: step 1/1. Simultaneous disruption of panD and panC gives a mutant unable to grow in the absence of panothenate. The double mutant has a highly attenuated disease response in BALB/c and SCID mice; immunocompromised BALB/c SCID mice survive on average 36 weeks as opposed to 5 weeks for mice infected with wild-type bacteria, while immunocompetent BALB/c mice survive indefinitely. In wild-type mice bacteria grow for 3 weeks then undergo a steady decline, bacteria persist over 8 months in SCID mice (PubMed:12219086). The double mutant is sensitive to PZA but not POA in liquid culture, beta-alanine but not pantothenate antagonize the effect of PZA at pH 5.8 (PubMed:25246400). Subcutaneous immunization with the double panD and panC bacterial disruption mutant protects mice for over a year against subsequent virulent M.tuberculosis (strain Erdman) infections; mice show mild lung inflammation and fibrosis despite a chronic bacterila infection. This is a promising attenuated vaccine strain. The reaction proceeds by a bi uni uni bi ping pong mechanism. Was identified as a high-confidence drug target. Belongs to the pantothenate synthetase family.