Pantothenate kinase catalyzes the rate-controlling step in coenzyme A (CoA) biosynthesis and is regulated by feedback inhibition by CoA. Pantothenate kinase was purified to homogeneity from Escherichia coli and was shown to exist as a homodimer. Kinetic analysis indicated the presence of two ATP binding sites that exhibited positive cooperativity with a Hill coefficient of 1.46. Site-directed mutagenesis of lysine 101 to methionine (K101M) resulted in the inactivation of the enzyme, although dimer formation was not altered. The K101M mutant was unable to bind either adenosine 5'-O-(3-thiotriphosphate) or CoA, supporting the conclusion from kinetic analysis that both the substrate and inhibitor bind to the same site on the enzyme. CoA binding was not cooperative. Coexpression of the K101M mutant gene on a high copy number plasmid in the presence of a chromosomal copy of the wild-type gene resulted in the production of heterodimers between active and inactive subunits. Kinetic analysis of the chimeric heterodimers showed the absence of cooperative ATP interactions and indicated a sequential kinetic mechanism for pantothenate kinase with ATP binding first and pantothenate second. Thus, pantothenate kinase regulation involves the competitive binding of CoA to the ATP site, which blocks ATP binding at one site and prevents positive cooperative ATP binding to the second site on the dimer.