While investigating the function of a specific growth factor receptor gene from humans, researchers found that two types of proteins are synthesized from this gene. A larger protein containing a membrane-spanning domain functions to recognize growth factors at the cell surface, stimulating a specific downstream signaling pathway. In contrast, a related, smaller protein is secreted from the cell and functions to bind available growth factor circulating in the blood, thus inhibiting the downstream signaling pathway. Speculate on how the cell synthesizes these disparate proteins.