Tensin is a multi-domain protein that binds to actin filaments and functions as a focal-adhesion molecule (focal adhesions are regions of plasma membrane through which cells attach to the extracellular matrix).

Human tensin has actin-binding sites, an SH2 (Pfam PF00017) domain and a region similar to the tumour suppressor PTEN.

[2] The PTB domain interacts with the cytoplasmic tails of beta integrin by binding to an NPXY motif.

Two arginines in this domain are responsible for hydrogen bonding phosphotyrosine residues on an Ac-LYASSNPApY-NH2 peptide in the juxtamembrane region of the insulin receptor.

The substrate peptide fits into an L-shaped surface cleft formed from the C-terminal helix and strands 5 and 6.