The present invention provides conjugates comprising a substituted aminopyridine covalently attached to an organic molecule via an amide bond. Such conjugates find utility as substrates for amide hydrolases, where the substituted aminopyridine acts as a fluorescent reporter of amide hydrolase activity. As a result, the conjugates described herein can advantageously be used in assays to detect amide hydrolase activity based upon measuring the fluorescence of a substituted aminopyridine that is released after amide hydrolysis. The conjugates of the present invention are also particularly useful in screening assays, which enable the identification of inhibitory molecules for amide hydrolases and other enzymes. The identified amide hydrolase inhibitors can be used in the treatment of a variety of diseases and disorders associated with aberrant amide hydrolase activity.